PARTYNEXTDOOR Says Rihanna’s ‘Work’ Almost Went to Alicia Keys

PARTYNEXTDOOR is famous for being uninvolved with the media, but this week, he’s giving back-to-back interviews.

After yesterday’s Rolling Stone Q&A, The New York Times unveiled its profile on the OVO star, where he reveals some behind-the-scenes details about Rihanna’s Drake-assisted smash “Work,” which he famously co-wrote.

“Her label didn’t care for Caribbean music at the time,” he says, adding that he almost kept the song and considered giving it to Alicia Keys. In the end, however, RiRi “fought for it.”

“She said, ‘This is my family’s favorite song,’” he adds.

Discussing Kehlani, Kylie Jenner, and his growth as an artist, PND also addresses his private nature in the piece. “You don’t really know anything about me,” he explains, “and that’s how I like it.”

See more highlights from the article below.

On meeting Rihanna: “The first feeling I got was, ‘Why am I here?’ All these guys have made hits already.”

On Kehlani controversy: “No one knows the details, and I don’t care to defend myself.”

On Kylie Jenner: “I’m grateful that really pretty girls like my music, and social media just happens to like really pretty girls.”

On growth: “More people’s eyes are on me now. The people are literally watching me find my voice.”

On rejecting hits: “I could make a PARTYNEXTDOOR album that’s clean, all hits. That’s not what I care about doing.”

On working with Drake: “I openly share music with Drake, especially when it’s time for him to have a project…I have an older brother I can text anytime, someone who’s super invested because my name is tied into his. It’s just creatives cooking. If he sees something in a song of mine that he feels he can spin around and make better, who am I to say I’m going to selfishly keep it? As a fan of music, that’s wrong.”

On superstardom: “Of course I want to be a superstar, but it doesn’t happen overnight, and I see that from having a mentor.”

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